Britain must stop ‘sleepwalking’ and accept Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) is an existential threat that must be defeated through ‘military intervention,’ according to the former head of the British Army.

General Sir David
Richards, now known as Baron Richards of Herstmonceux, headed the
British armed forces from 2010 to 2013.

Speaking at the Chalke Valley History Festival, Richards said:
“I think the problem is that we have not seen that we need to
approach this issue of Muslim extremism as we might approach
World War Two back in the 30s.”

He criticized the UK’s political leaders who, he felt, were not
doing enough to combat the IS threat.

“This is a real threat to us and we’re sleepwalking in the
way we’re approaching it,” he said.

Richards claimed time is running out to deal with the so-called
Islamic State, which he called “an existential threat to all
of us.”

“In [a] generation, even in 10 years, a hell of a lot of
damage is going to happen and it will continue to draw all sorts
of people into their ranks and get stronger and stronger.”

There has been considerable debate over whether or not IS
presents an existential danger to the West.

Prime Minister David Cameron has called the rise of this militant
group a “mortal threat.”

However, according to a study by the Royal United Services
Institute (RUSI), the government privately considers the risks
faced by the UK less than existential, a position which is
reflected by current defense policy, particularly military
austerity.

The RUSI report, published in March, concludes: “The
government is not yet convinced that strategic security risks are
high enough to justify an exemption for defense from
austerity.”

The investigation also indicates Britain is unlikely to meet the
symbolic spending of two percent of GDP on defense expected by
NATO.